Telecommunications Engineering Students Win First Prize at Huawei ICT Competition 2025–2026 Global Final with AI Innovation for Remote Communities
Bandung, stei.itb.ac.id – Another remarkable achievement has been earned by students of Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) on the international stage. Team Hawkeye, consisting of three students from the Telecommunications Engineering Study Program at the School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (STEI) ITB, won First Prize in the Innovation Competition category at the prestigious Huawei ICT Competition 2025–2026 Global Final, held in Shenzhen, China.
The Hawkeye team consists of Sulthan Miftahul Ulum, Rossi Putri Rusliadi, and Kimi Rafif Asyadda, under the guidance of Latif Sungkar. They managed to outperform various teams from a number of countries through an innovation entitled DermaLens, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based skin disease diagnosis device specifically designed to answer health service challenges in remote areas.
DermaLens was born out of the team's concern about the disparity in access to healthcare still experienced by communities in remote areas of the Asia Pacific region. Unlike conventional diagnostic devices, which generally require internet infrastructure and are expensive, DermaLens is designed to operate entirely offline.
Using AI image classification technology, this device can identify various skin conditions simply from user-captured images. The analysis results can then be used as a baseline for local healthcare workers, such as village nurses or community health center staff, in providing further treatment.
"The innovation we developed is called DermaLens, an AI-based skin disease diagnosis device that is specifically designed to reach remote areas such as mountains, outer islands and deep forests. What makes it different is its ability to work completely without an internet connection" said Sulthan.
Beyond the technological aspect, cost-effectiveness is one of DermaLens' key strengths. The team estimates the device could be implemented for around US$190, significantly lower than conventional skin diagnostic devices, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. This approach aligns with the team's vision of bringing more inclusive and affordable health technology to communities with limited access to modern medical facilities.
Team Hawkeye's journey to the world championship wasn't a one-off. Preparations began at the national level and continued through the Asia-Pacific regional rounds to the global grand final.
At the regional stage, the team faced a challenging situation, only securing third prize. This result was quite challenging, as it differed from their achievement at the national level. However, rather than giving up, the experience fueled their enthusiasm for comprehensive evaluation and improvement.
The team continued to develop DermaLens, refining the device's design, perfecting the AI system, and preparing presentation materials and competition videos. In fact, the refinement process was still ongoing until the day before departure for Shenzhen.
“There was no moment when we felt certain we would be champions. Instead, it was a long process of continuously improving what was lacking. That confidence came from maximum effort, prayer, and surrender to the best possible outcome,” said Sulthan.
Behind these achievements, the team also had to face various challenges, both technical and personal. Throughout the product development process, various technical obstacles and troubleshooting were an integral part of their journey.
At the same time, all team members are final-year students completing their theses, attending lectures, and actively participating in various organizational activities. This requires high levels of time management and coordination skills.
At the same time, all team members are final-year students completing their theses, attending lectures, and actively participating in various organizational activities. This requires high levels of time management and coordination skills.
.Ketika semangat sempat turun setelah hasil regional, kami memilih untuk tidak berhenti. Kami menjadikan pengalaman itu sebagai bahan bakar untuk tampil lebih baik di tingkat global” ujarnya.
Bagi Tim Hawkeye, partisipasi dalam Huawei ICT Competition tidak sekadar tentang memenangkan kompetisi. Ajang tersebut dipilih karena memiliki keterkaitan erat dengan bidang yang mereka pelajari, khususnya teknologi informasi, komunikasi, dan kecerdasan buatan.
More than that, they want to prove that Indonesian students are capable of producing relevant, applicable innovations that can compete internationally. The victory in Shenzhen is proof that ideas born from Indonesian campuses can gain recognition on the global stage.
This motivation grew stronger after they overcame various challenges during the competition. The initially disappointing regional results proved a turning point, driving the team to work even harder, ultimately winning the top prize.
DermaLens is currently in the prototype stage and does not yet have an industry partner or sponsor for further development. However, the global win is significant validation of the potential of the team's technology.
Going forward, there are wide-open opportunities for collaboration with various parties to bring DermaLens to a broader implementation stage so that its benefits can be directly felt by the community.
Personally, the experience of winning First Prize also gave the team members a new perspective on the potential that can be achieved through hard work, collaboration, and innovation. For Sulthan, this achievement further strengthened his interest in artificial intelligence and socially impactful technologies.
.Prestasi ini membuat saya semakin yakin untuk terus berkarya di bidang AI dan teknologi. Saya berharap inovasi yang dikembangkan tidak hanya berhenti sebagai proyek kompetisi, tetapi dapat memberikan manfaat nyata bagi masyarakat, khususnya mereka yang selama ini belum banyak tersentuh oleh perkembangan teknologi” tuturnya.
Keberhasilan Tim Hawkeye menjadi bukti bahwa semangat inovasi, ketekunan, dan kolaborasi dapat membawa mahasiswa Indonesia bersaing dan berprestasi di tingkat dunia. Prestasi ini sekaligus memperkuat posisi STEI ITB sebagai salah satu pusat pengembangan talenta teknologi yang mampu melahirkan solusi inovatif bagi berbagai tantangan global.
